While confectionery will continue to drive the shopping rush, another Easter shopping trend con­tinues to grow.

Pyjamas and ugg boots are becoming the Easter present of choice and staff at Peter ­Alexander in Hobart are watching snug sleeping attire fly out the door again this year.

A range of Easter-themed items were selling well, staff said.

“I think the fact that Easter comes in line with a change in the seasons, and the end of daylight savings, adds to the popularity of PJs at this time,” a staff member said.

In terms of chocolate, IBISWorld says traditional brands will continue to make up most of the sales but more ­consumers were buying fair trade and organic brands.

High-end brands are favoured for chocolate gifts and
speciality chocolate shops, including Anvers at Latrobe, which has produced handmade Easter eggs for the first time this year, will benefit.

The Save the Bilby Fund is again calling on chocolate ­lovers to shun rabbits in favour of bilbies.

“Australians will spend millions on chocolate this Easter and many will be rabbits, which cause billions of dollars of damage to the Australian environment each year,” fund co-founder Frank Manthey said.

He urged shoppers to look for Pink Lady bilbies bearing the Save the Bilby logo.

The campaign took a blow in 2012 when Darrell Lea, which had supported the cause, closed its stores taking with it about $60,000 a year in Save the Bilby funds.

Pink Lady stepped in last year but too late to secure an Easter deal with major stores.

This year, the Pink Lady bilbies will be available at Big W, Myer, David Jones and se­lected post offices.

Australians are expected to consume more alcohol at home than in pubs and bars this Easter, and Tasmania’s burgeoning cider industry is tipped to continue as the ­fastest growing segment of that market.